The term of NCSC Chairman P L Punia expired last month, while NCBC Chairman Justice V Eshwaraiah's term concluded in September last. The Chairmen of both the commissions have fixed tenure of three years.

Government on Thursday said that heads of the schedule caste and backward class commissions will be appointed by the year end. Both, National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) are without the Chairman, as terms of respective heads of the commissions have been concluded.

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“The department has initiated the process for appointing Chairman for both NCSC and NCBC. And by the end of this year the appointments will be made,” Social Justice Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot said.

The term of NCSC Chairman P L Punia expired last month, while NCBC Chairman Justice V Eshwaraiah’s term concluded in September last. The Chairmen of both the commissions have fixed tenure of three years. But, NCBC Chairman can only be either a judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court.

NCSC has the powers to investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes under the Constitution. Besides this the schedule caste commission can also inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the SCs.

Similarly, NCBC has the powers to advice the government on inclusion or deletion of any castes from the central OBC list. Its advice is binding upon the Centre. NCBC has all the powers of a civil court.